BRISTOL, Conn. - It may have been the final day of pool play at the New England Regional, but the playoffs started early for Barnstable Tom Wallace American Little League.

Barnstable easily took care of business in what was a win-or-go-home game, 8-2, over Goffstown Junior New Hampshire at Breen Field at A. Bartlett Giamatti Little League Leadership Training Center on Wednesday afternoon. The offense gave Barnstable an early lead and starting pitcher Bennett Teceno handled the rest, advancing the Massachusetts state champions to the semifinals today.

Barnstable finished pool play at 2-2 is the No. 4 seed in the semifinals and will play Fairfield, Conn., today at 3 p.m. (NESN). If Barnstable wins, it will advance to the New England Regional final on Saturday at 7 p.m. with a trip to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Penn., on the line.

The other semifinal is Cumberland, R.I., against Falmouth, Maine. That game begins at noon today (NESN).

“Today was just unbelievable. New Hampshire was a really good team - we watched them beat [Fairfield] Connecticut a couple nights ago,” said Massachusetts manager Joe Burke. “We knew we had to play as good as we have ever played here, and basically as good as we've played to date, and we did.”

Barnstable (2-2) jumped on New Hampshire in the first inning. Wyatt Scotti reached on an error, scoring on an RBI single by Teceno setting the table for a two-run double from Ben Baxter (2-for-3).

“I was just listening to what coach said about going to the opposite way and (New Hampshire starting pitcher Connor Hujsak) threw me one right down the middle, right in my sweet spot,” Baxter said.

Brian Frieh capped off the first-inning rally by scoring on a wild pitch, and just like that Barnstable led 4-0.

“It [took] the pressure off in a big way,” said Burke of the first inning rally.

The four runs were more than enough for Teceno, who pounded the strike zone, pitching to contact. The right-hander went the distance, striking out four, allowing five hits, one earned run, needing only 77 pitches. Teceno didn't issue a single walk and kept the ball on the ground, inducing seven groundball outs.

“I was throwing a lot of fastballs; my curveball was working late; and I threw a lot of groundballs,” Teceno said.

Teceno also helped his own cause at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two runs scored.

With its starter cruising, Barnstable's bats padded the lead in the fourth adding four more insurance runs. The rally was highlighted by a two-run blast by Colby Burke to deep left center, extending Barnstable's lead to 7-1.

“It felt really good off the bat,” said Burke. “I think it was a four-seam fastball because I don't think I could've hit a curveball that far.”

It has been anything but an easy ride to the semifinals for Barnstable. A loss to Maine and a 25-5 defeat at the hands of Rhode Island put Massachusetts in a deep hole. But with Rhode Island defeating Vermont earlier on Wednesday to improve to 3-1 in pool play, the door was left open for Barnstable to win and advance.

“All of that stuff doesn't matter - it is a fresh start. It is win and stay and we've kind of liked it here in Bristol,” Burke said.